GAS STATION PATRON BEATEN WITH CROWBAR

A man trying to steal from people at a Valencia Park gas station beat a patron over the head with a crowbar before fleeing early Saturday, San Diego police said.

The attacker drove into the Express Gas Station on Imperial Avenue near Euclid Avenue around 2:45 a.m. and, crowbar in hand, demanded money first of the clerk, then of a female patron, police said. When both refused, the man approached the woman’s male companion, who also refused to give him money.

Police said the assailant then started to beat the man with the crowbar, hitting him numerous times in the head, then fled in a truck.

The victim was taken to the hospital.

Police described the would-be robber as white, in his 50s, with a heavy build and a long white beard. He was wearing a green camouflage hat, an orange and white Miami Dolphins or University of Miami jacket, an orange shirt and green camouflage pants.

He was driving a white Mazda truck with a white camper shell, with two windows on each side, police said. The truck has a decal on the left rear that reads “STX” and has a broken left taillight lens.

Anyone with information related to the incident can leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at (888) 540-8477.

Katherine Poythress • U-T

Store owner’s Taser scares away robber

San Diego

A convenience store owner used a Taser to scare off a man who tried to rob his store Saturday morning.

The man was hanging around the Rolando Mart on University Avenue near Rolando Boulevard before he bought some cigarettes about 7:30 a.m., police said. He then simulated a gun and walked around the counter demanding money.

Police said the owner pulled out a Taser, scaring the would-be robber, who then jumped on a bicycle and made his escape eastbound on University.

Officers found a suspect about half a mile away, and the 29-year-old was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of attempted robbery.

Katherine Poythress • U-T

Man fatally struck by SUV identified

Mira Mesa

A pedestrian who was struck and killed by an SUV in Mira Mesa on Monday night has been identified as Marcus Domingo Lee.

Lee, 46, was described by the Medical Examiner’s Office as a transient.

San Diego police said he was trying to cross Mira Mesa Boulevard near Black Mountain Road about 7:30 p.m. when he was struck by a Toyota RAV4 driven by a 20-year-old woman.

Lee suffered major head injuries and died at the scene, authorities said.

Pauline Repard • U-T

Man shot fleeing gang on City Heights street

City Heights

Police are looking for a man who wounded another man late Thursday in a gang-related shooting.

The victim was walking on Menlo Avenue near University Avenue about 11:35 p.m. when he was approached by three men, San Diego police said.

One of them said something to the victim, and he started to run away. As he ran, one of the men shot at him five to six times, and one bullet hit him in the leg.

The shooter was described as black and in his 30s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and 170 pounds, wearing a gray, hooded sweatshirt.